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Endometriosis

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecologic disease with a pleiotropic symptomatology, physical presentation, and treatment approaches. Ten percent of the population is affected; however, the prevalence in chronic pelvic pain or infertility-stricken women is much higher. Surgical diagnosis is adequate, but the classification scheme is of little value to clinicians. Apart from a genetic component to endometriosis, there are other predisposing factors that are predominately estrogen driven. Several hypotheses exist, but there is no conclusive theory for either the pathophysiology of endometriosis or the mechanisms for resulting infertility and pain. This chapter describes approaches to treating infertility (both surgically and medically) as well as managing pain symptoms. As much as the literature provides, evidence-based studies have been summarized to maximize your treatment approaches to this vexing disease.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, 2365 Deming Way, Middleton, WI, 53562, USA

    Dan I. Lebovic MD

  2. Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Tommaso Falcone MD

Authors
  1. Dan I. Lebovic MD
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  2. Tommaso Falcone MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dan I. Lebovic MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cleveland Clinic, Ob/Gyn & Women's Health Institute, Euclid Ave 9500, Cleveland, 44195, Ohio, USA

    Tommaso Falcone

  2. Duke University Medical Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erwin Rd 2301, Durham, 27705, North Carolina, USA

    William W. Hurd

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Lebovic, D.I., Falcone, T. (2013). Endometriosis. In: Falcone, T., Hurd, W. (eds) Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6837-0_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6837-0_20

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6836-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6837-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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